It’s been fifty years since the Sontarans made their first appearance in Doctor Who and, to celebrate, Big Finish are releasing a four-part series chronicling the war between the potato-headed invaders and their shapeshifting enemies, the Rutans! Daniel Mansfield reviews the second instalment in the series: The Children of the Future

---

The Children of the Future, by Tim Foley, sees Sarah Jane and the Brigadier become suspicious of the Doctor when he begins to act oddly. The first third of this story follows Sarah and the Brig as they investigate the Time Lord’s strange behaviour, following him to the castle from The Time Warrior. Sadie Miller and Jon Culshaw have a great dynamic

Despite the setting, and indeed the title of the series, this story doesn’t feature the Sontarans very much at all, instead focussing on the Rutans. Foley crafts an interesting plot around the slimy green foes- though it’s not hard to work out where the Rutans come in, and some of the twists end up being quite predictable.

Joining Treloar, Miller and Culshaw in this story is a strong guest cast. Jeremy Ang Jones is the standout as shopkeeper Stanley, who shares some touching scenes with the Brigadier, as well as having a rather unexpected storyline of his own. Meanwhile, Lucy Goldie and Nicholas Boulton are suitably threatening as futuristic soldiers Sergeant Moss and Captain Saint, who serve as the villains of the piece.

Overall, Children of the Future is another strong instalment in Sontarans VS Rutans, its focus on character and slightly different take on the Sontaran/Rutan War pushing it just above The Battle of Giant’s Causeway. Recommended.

The Children of the Future is available on CD or as a download from http://www.bigfinish.com